Villa Contarini: History & Visitor Guide

Villa Contarini – Camerini is one of the largest Venetian villas still standing, its Baroque, semicircular facade forming the backdrop to Piazzola sul Brenta's main square. Few guesthouses in Italy let you sleep inside a monument like this one — our apartment sits within the villa's own Palladian Loggias.

From Palladian Roots to Baroque Grandeur

The villa's central body was commissioned in 1546 by brothers Paolo and Francesco Contarini, with a design likely connected to the great Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Later generations of the Contarini family added the sweeping Baroque wings and the porticoed Loggias that curve around the square today, built in the late 1600s by Marco Contarini to host guests during the villa's lavish Baroque festivities.

The Camerini Family and the English Park

In 1852, the complex was purchased by the wealthy Camerini family, who carried out extensive restoration and gave the villa much of its current layout. At the end of the 19th century they added the vast English-style park to the north — more than 40 hectares of ponds, small lakes, and tree-lined avenues that remain one of the most atmospheric green spaces in the Veneto.

Visiting Villa Contarini Today

Part of the villa and its park is open to visitors and hosts concerts, exhibitions, and cultural events throughout the year — see the Events page for what's coming up. The square in front, Piazza Paolo Camerini, is also where the town's famous Antique Market and other seasonal markets take place.

Steps from Your Front Door

The Loggias where guests stay are part of the villa complex itself, so a visit to Villa Contarini starts the moment you step outside. See The Apartment for details on staying here.